Peer Review Policy

Overview

AIJSS is committed to publishing high-quality, original, and socially impactful research in the social sciences. The peer review process is central to ensuring scholarly excellence, methodological soundness, and ethical compliance.

All manuscripts submitted to AIJSS undergo a double-blind peer review to ensure impartiality and eliminate institutional, national, or personal bias.

???? Review Model: Double-Blind Peer Review

  • Author Anonymity: Reviewers are not informed of the authors’ identities.

  • Reviewer Anonymity: Authors do not know the reviewers’ identities.

???? This ensures manuscripts are evaluated solely on their academic merit.

???? Peer Review Workflow

1. Submission & Initial Editorial Screening

Upon submission via the AIJSS online portal, each manuscript is screened by the editorial office for:

  • Relevance to AIJSS scope and social sciences

  • Adherence to formatting and submission requirements

  • Ethical compliance and documentation

  • Plagiarism check via Turnitin or equivalent (Maximum similarity allowed: 10%)

❌ Submissions not meeting basic criteria are desk-rejected without external review.

2. Reviewer Selection

Eligible manuscripts are assigned to at least two independent reviewers based on:

  • Subject-area expertise

  • Academic and research credentials

  • Absence of conflicts of interest

3. Review Criteria

Reviewers evaluate manuscripts on:

  • Originality & Scholarly Contribution

  • Methodological Soundness & Theoretical Grounding

  • Accuracy of Data & Validity of Findings

  • Relevance to Policy, Education, or Social Impact

  • Writing Clarity & Logical Structure

  • Adherence to Ethical Standards

???? Reviewer Recommendations:

  • ✅ Accept

  • ✏️ Minor Revisions

  • ???? Major Revisions (with re-review)

  • ❌ Reject

4. Editorial Decision

The handling editor consolidates reviewer reports and makes a final decision.

Authors receive:

  • A detailed decision letter

  • Reviewer comments and revision instructions

  • A revision deadline (typically 2–4 weeks)

⏱ Review Timeframe

The peer review process is completed within 4–6 weeks, depending on:

  • Reviewer response time

  • Article complexity

  • Number of revision cycles

???? Authors are encouraged to revise and resubmit promptly.

✅ Reviewer Ethics & Responsibilities

Reviewers must:

  • Maintain strict confidentiality

  • Provide objective, respectful, and constructive feedback

  • Declare any conflict of interest

  • Uphold fairness, and avoid any form of bias

???? Reviewers must not:

  • Share manuscript content externally

  • Use unpublished data

  • Contact the author directly

???? Appeals Process

Authors may appeal an editorial decision by:

  • Submitting a formal written appeal to the Editor-in-Chief

  • Including detailed justification and supporting evidence

???? The editorial board may seek an independent review, and the final decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief.

⚖️ Ethical Standards

AIJSS aligns with:

  • COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics)

  • HEC Pakistan publishing quality criteria

  • International publishing best practices

???? Reviewer Recognition

To acknowledge reviewer contributions:

  • An annual reviewer acknowledgment list is published (with consent)

  • Certificates of recognition are issued on request

  • Top reviewers may be invited to join the Editorial Board

???? Conclusion

The peer review process at AIJSS reflects our core values:

  • Integrity

  • Academic Rigor

  • Impartiality

  • Social Relevance

By fostering a transparent and ethical review system, AIJSS supports the advancement of scholarship across the social sciences.